Tapping on the north side of tree and the south side

[ir3333]

Has anybody put a tap on the north side as well as the south side and compared the results
over the season?

[maple flats]

I never compared them, not that scientific. I do however have about 25% of my taps on each side, not specifically directly north, south, east or west, but sort of in those general directions.
If you favored all south exposures this year, at some point in the future all should be northerly.
I believe most of the difference will just be the timing of best sap flow. South will tend to produce earlier, north later in the season and east/west in between.

[ecolbeck]

I suspect there would be very little difference within a single tree. However, stands of trees on the north or south sides of a hill would probably behave quite differently.

[Pdiamond]

Its been my personal experience with buckets and bags when tapping that there is no difference in the amount of sap produced from the trees, On good days both sides produced well on slow days not so well. Now my trees have all been sugar maples both in the open and in the woods.

[DrTimPerkins]

Has anybody put a tap on the north side as well as the south side and compared the results over the season?

This has been done numerous times in scientific studies. In some years there may be a difference (in hot years the north side is better, in cold years the south side is better), however in most studies compared average yields over several years, the results showed no difference due to aspect. The best approach, as suggested by others already, is to spread the tapping around the entire tapping zone over time to avoid cluster tapping.

[ir3333]

i've read so many articles
over a root
under a branch
below 3 feet flows more, above 3 feet flows less
north side won't flow as much as the south
south flows early, north flows late
west side will flow better than the east
But i have never seen any actual numbers..i'm going to do some experimenting this year with north and south taps on the same trees.

[DrTimPerkins]

MY REPLIES IN CAPS AFTER EACH OF THESE STATEMENTS

over a root NO NEED. SAP WILL FLOW IN ALL SAPWOOD.
under a branch SAME AS ABOVE.
below 3 feet flows more, above 3 feet flows less. THE DIFFERENCE IS SLIGHT.
north side won't flow as much as the south WRONG. OVER MANY YEARS THEY AVERAGE THE SAME.
south flows early, north flows late THIS IS OFTEN CORRECT, BUT SOUTH FLOW STOPS EARLIER N THE SEASON, NORTH CONTINUES LATER
west side will flow better than the east NO EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS TRUE.

But i have never seen any actual numbers..i'm going to do some experimenting this year with north and south taps on the same trees.
IF YOU DECIDE TO DO THIS, DO IT FOR AT LEAST 3-5 YRS TO ACCOUNT FOR SEASONAL DIFFERENCES BEFORE MAKING ANY CONCLUSIONS.

[Ghost]

How long will it take for a 55 gallon drum of frozen sap to melt?

[ir3333]

if it is outside and follows the freeze ..thaw cycles of the weather a month plus....

[Ghost]

So I think I just learned I tapped too early